Who Are the Corsicans?
The Corsicans are the indigenous people of Corsica (Corse in French, Corsica in Corsican), a Mediterranean island that is a territorial collectivity of France. The island has approximately 340,000 residents. Corsicans speak Corsican (Corsu), a Romance language closely related to Italian, particularly Tuscan. Though part of France since 1769, Corsica maintains distinctive identity expressed through language, music, vendetta traditions, and strong regional pride. The island's mountainous interior fostered isolation; coastal towns show Italian and French influences. Napoleon Bonaparte's birthplace (Ajaccio) is Corsica's capital. Corsican nationalism and autonomy movements have periodically challenged French rule.
Romance Language in France
Corsican belongs to the Italo-Dalmatian Romance languages, more closely related to Italian than to French. Under Genoese rule (1284-1768), Italian was the prestige language; after French annexation, French became dominant. The French state's traditional resistance to minority languages (France has not ratified the European Charter for Regional Languages) long disadvantaged Corsican. Since the 1970s, revival efforts have achieved some success—Corsican is taught in schools, used in media, and visible in signage. However, transmission to children remains weak. Most Corsicans are bilingual, but French dominates in education, administration, and public life.
Nationalism and Violence
Corsican nationalism emerged in the 20th century, intensifying in the 1970s. The FLNC (Front de Libération Nationale Corse) and other groups conducted bombing campaigns targeting French state property and "continental" settlers' businesses. Violence peaked in the 1990s-2000s. The assassination of Prefect Claude Érignac (1998) and subsequent crackdowns altered the political landscape. Nationalist parties now participate in elections; some leaders have renounced violence. Demands range from autonomy within France to full independence. This violent history distinguishes Corsica from most other French regions and reflects deep-seated resentments over perceived colonial treatment.
Contemporary Corsicans
Modern Corsicans balance French citizenship with island identity. Tourism dominates the economy—Corsica's beaches, mountains, and "maquis" scrubland attract millions. Nationalist parties achieved electoral success in recent years, controlling the regional assembly and pressing for autonomy and Corsican language recognition. Environmental protection against development pressure is a growing concern. Young Corsicans often leave for education and jobs in mainland France. How Corsicans secure greater autonomy while preserving language and identity—and whether peaceful politics can succeed after decades of violence—shapes their future within or beyond France.
References
- Jaffe, A. (1999). Ideologies in Action: Language Politics on Corsica
- Ferragu, I. (2005). \"Corsican: The Revival of a Language\"
- Crettiez, X. (1999). La Question corse